Sofware Developer, Bird Man, Sometime Pest

A Comment On RSVP’s On Meetings

While I’m thinking about it, another quick comment. If you’re asked to RSVP to a meetup, user group, etc. please do not say “I’ll attend” unless you’re sure you’ll attend. As dumb as it sounds we have a few people around the Metro Detroit area (not naming any names) that seem to consistently sign-up for meetups and indicate they are planning to attend and then simply never show up.

Perhaps if I explain why this is a problem my point will become clearer. The organizers of these user groups, meetups and so forth often want to feed attendees. In order to get the right amount of food because if we get too little some will go hungry and if we get too much food may go to waste we need an idea of how many people to expect. Hence if you RSVP that you’re going to attend and then just don’t bother to show up you’re simply making it harder for those who run these meetings. By the way, the people I have in my mind have done this multiple times.

If you join a meetup group because you’re interested in the topic you are not obliged to RSVP yes to attendance. You won’t be kicked off of the meetup group’s mailing lists. But if you do RSVP yes and don’t bother to show up you may eventually find yourself removed.